MALAYSIA: HOTELS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY STEPS TO AVOID H1N1

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH)
has given an assurance that all 509 member hotels have taken precautionary
measures against the spread of Influenza A (H1N1).

Its honorary secretary, Cheah Swee Hee, said all hotel rooms were supplied
with the health ministry's brochures on the H1N1, also known as swine flu,
besides memoranda to remind patrons to inform the management if they experienced
symptoms.

He was speaking at a press conference Tuesday, on the four-day Culinaire
Malaysia 2009 which begins on Aug 11.

The bi-annual event is organised by MAH, with collaboration from Chefs
Association of Malaysia and Malaysia Food and Beverage Executive Association.

As at 8am Tuesday, 34 H1N1 cases comprising 22 imported and 12 through local
transmissions, were reported. One of the imported cases was via a participant of
the four-day Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Conference in Penang, beginning June
27.

Currently, 468 cases have been reported nationwide, including 355 imported
cases and 113 local transmissions. There has been no report of fatality.

On the influx of foreign workers dominating the hotel sector, Cheah said
most of them were out-sourced.

-- BERNAMA